“Hold It for Me” at the North Shore Library

Sometimes popular new books and media items just fly off the shelves.  And so many books are published each year that there is no way we could purchase them all.  Fortunately we are a part of the Milwaukee County Library System, so we can help you find many of the items you want even if they are not on our shelves right now.

If an item is available at another Milwaukee County library, we are happy to get it for you through a process called “holds” or “reserves”.  They will send it to us by van and then you can pick it up and return it at the North Shore Library.

The procedures are as follows: 

• To request books online, just go to the Library Catalog (County Cat) at https://countycat.mcfls.org.  Once you have registered your account, click on the book you want.  If you put it in your “cart”, you can “request” it when you “view your cart”.
• Or you may also call the Reserve Hotline to leave a message at 414-351-3461 if that is more convenient for you.
• Or just call us or stop in and ask to talk to a librarian.  You may fill out a “Hold Slip” and give it to us if you wish.
• Let us know if you would prefer that we notify you by phone or by e-mail.
• Once the item is at the North Shore Library, you have 5 days to pick it up at the Circulation Desk where you check items out.
• If you decide you no longer want a book you have put “on hold”, please let us know so we can cancel the hold.  There is a small fine for items not picked up.
• If there are ever any questions, do not hesitate to talk to the librarians.  We are there to help you.

The following letter was in the Oct./Nov. 2010  issue of  Mother Earth News and tells of one mother’s solution to simplify her life.

“… I discovered I could request books online, and pick up the books from the hold shelf as soon as the library notifies me they’re in – so we’re in and out in minutes.  These days, my son is an avid reader and we visit the library twice a week. 

With the online ordering system, I also have access to books in the entire library system, not just from the local branch.  My son can get specific volumes in a series and not have to choose from whatever happens to be on the shelf the day we go in – just as long as he can carry them all home.”  Lee Revere, Snohomish, Washington

Try it at the North Shore Library as well.